Saturday, July 20, 2013

Manners

Shared grouse country is a treasure.

It
was something that I read in Gene Hill’s Shotgunner’s
Handbook that got me to thinking about bird hunting manners. It is seldom
spoken about, unless introducing a youngster to the sport, or even an oldster I
guess, but manners are extremely important.

Gun
safety is at the top of the list, keeping track of where that muzzle is
pointed. The way grouse explode into the air and reflexes take over, it is easy
to imagine horrible things happening.
Most of my hunting used to be done alone, and much still is, which
eliminates that concern.

Game
hogs can’t be tolerated, but with the wily grouse of today it is almost
impossible to be a game hog. I guess it is more of an attitude thing. Hunting
is about a lot more than the number of birds killed.

Guests
hunting with me are always encouraged to take most of the shots. I’m not sure
if that is me being gracious or maybe me trying to hide my so-so shooting. Enthusiastic
newcomers are fun to watch, even if the ruffed grouse is usually long gone by
the time the trigger is pulled. Seasoned hunters, who actually kill birds with
some regularity, are like watching magicians.

Woodcock pinned

Most
of us could not imagine hunting without a dog, and I’m sure our opinions of our
own dogs are like those of our children, a bit tainted. Never ever should a
hunter make a negative comment about someone else’s dog, and please leave the
directing of the dog to its owner. If you are not sure of the proper protocol
around another person’s dog, ask.

On
occasion, in a large alder flat or grouse thicket and when we’ve been gunning
over two dogs or more, I’ll tell the trusted friend to split off and take my
older dog along. The oldest girl is what I call bullet-proof, with good habits
so well ingrained that I know she’ll be fine, no matter what is said to her.
Besides, she’s basically a whore and will hunt for anybody.

Training together

I
love dogs and enjoy the pandemonium of hunting over multiples. I’m sure a lot
of people think this is insane, and I don’t claim that it puts more birds in
the bag. I guarantee it is never boring though and what person’s heart doesn’t
flutter at the sight of three or more dogs pointing simultaneously.

In
the field most of them seem to get along and tend to business, but it certainly
is more fun if they all honor each other’s points. Occasionally, some dogs, often
who’ve spent their lives hunting in preserves, are clueless out in the big northern
forests. Most will put it all together in short order though, particularly if
they are hunting alongside experienced dogs, but, if after a day or two they
still haven’t, I don’t know if they ever will.

The right friend can add a lot of pleasure
to a day afield.

And
definitely, to avoid the biggest faux pas of all, you must assume that when
someone takes you to one of their favorite coverts it is not yours to share
unless the privilege is specifically granted. And, quite frankly, I’ve never
heard of that happening. Productive grouse cover is just too precious and hard
to come by to casually spread around. Sleeping with another’s spouse will get
you into no more trouble than stealing their coverts—it is that serious.

So
a gun shot a little too close to me or my dogs, a frantic attitude about
bagging birds, an unruly dog, or a shotgun’s muzzle that wanders casually all
over the place—any one of those can take the fun out of my day and you need not
be hunting with me again.

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